By Janet Boyle.
A Scots dog owner won a battle to have two wind turbines removed after
claiming her pet suffered seizures.
The turbines were eventually removed, but it was a victory tinged with sadness.
Irene Cardle says her beloved dog, Shadow, passed away just days after the
council dismantled the 19-yard-high fixtures last month.
The distressed dog had endured serious fits because of the flicker from the
blades which whirled just feet from the family home.
The turbines were sited at Blacklaw Primary School in East Kilbride and
built as part of an eco drive by education bosses.
Retired book-keeper, Irene, 66, said: “I had to watch helplessly as my dog,
Shadow, shook and took uncontrollable fits whenever the blades rotated.
“She was susceptible to fits but they increased significantly after the
turbines were put up five years ago.
“Our lives were made a misery by the constant flicker and whine of the
blades and I used to leave the house for hours with Shadow to escape.
“Sadly, Shadow passed away two weeks ago, just days after the turbines were
eventually taken down.
“She never got to enjoy much life after they went.”
Angry neighbours had raised a petition to plead with South Lanarkshire
Council to remove the turbines, but failed.
Residents living near the school say education bosses told them pupils had
asked for the turbines after voting for an energy saving device.
“It stunned us that the council consulted young children without thinking
how it would affect people living nearby,” Irene added.
Irene’s neighbour, Helen Morton, 66, backed the anti-turbine petition
saying she and many others could not open their windows at night because of
the noise.
“It was impossible to sit in my living room for more than an hour at night
because of the strobe effect from the propellers and the noise was like a
helicopter.
“A couple came round with a petition to stop them being built, but the
council went ahead despite our objections.”
Council officials say they dismantled the turbines because they were not
eco-efficient. When the mechanism which drove the blades broke they claim
they were costing more money to repair than the electricity which would be
generated.
Linda Holt, spokeswoman for Scotland against Spin, said: “We are not
surprised the turbines turned out to be inefficient. That is case for many
throughout Scotland.
“It’s a shame Shadow isn’t able to enjoy a peaceful old age now that the
turbines are finally removed.”
South Lanarkshire Council’s Head of Education’s Resources department,
George Wynne, said: “The turbines were installed following collaboration
between the school’s ‘green team’ and architects as part of a package of
efficient energy initiatives.
“They have been removed because they were not cost effective.”
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